Valerie Moreno Documents Afro-Latinas With #AfrosInSanJuan Project

Liberia•Chicago•Puerto Rico in one picture. What you see in the background is el Yunque which is the only rainforest in North America and it's in our backyard.
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Feb 3, 2017 at 8:03am PST
Far too often Black people are excluded from the Latina conversation. But one Puerto Rican artist is helping to remedy that problem. In an interview with Remezcla, photographer Valerie Moreno said "you will see boricuas of every color imaginable." To make these women more visible, Moreno launched the project and Instagram account Afros in San Juan.
Launched in August 2016, the project seeks to show that Afro-Latinas, particularly the ones with natural hair. So far the project has featured women like Juliana Pache, the founder of the #AfroLatinxHistory hashtag. There's also fellow artist Zahira Kelly, journalist Amanda Alcantara and others who've fought to bring exposure Afro-Latinos and Black women in general.
“I try to be kind and stay open in order to learn about how my other brown sisters live their lives and how I can better portray their beauty,” Moreno told #IAmEnough. “It’s not only about the photograph, it’s caring about their stories. Stories about overcoming pressures from society and even those closest to them, pushing them to straighten or relax their natural curls. Each photo is an expression of acceptance of who they are and victory over systematic attempts to make their ‘natural’ = something that needs to be fixed.”
Check out some of the images on the following pages.
Loving our time at @stregisbb every little corner is a beautiful photo-op.
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Nov 5, 2016 at 9:49pm PDT
Throwback Sunday because why not?! Two years ago I took the picture of this cutie, without knowing it was my first Afro in San Juan picture. How cute is my little helper? • • • #afrosinsanjuan #thatsdarling #pursuepretty #flashesofdelight #PuertoRicogram #finditliveit #hashtagPuertoRico #melanin #caribe #notyouraveragerican #Afropunk #latinabloggers #curlyfro #livingfabulosa #afrocaribeña #youbelong #naturalhair #PRgram #theeverydayproject #africanroots #livethelittlethings #NaturallyShesdope #colorism #kinkyhair #caribe #afroféminas #pelonatural #blackgirlmagic #whateverPR #makeportraits #darlingweekend
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Dec 4, 2016 at 8:35pm PST
Such poise.
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Dec 11, 2016 at 7:16pm PST
Caribbean Christmas made of flowers and Palm trees. This is still one of my favorite pictures of all time. She looks like a queen
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Dec 23, 2016 at 6:11am PST
Curls times two ¡Rizos a la doble potencia! • • • #afrosinsanjuan #thatsdarling #pursuepretty #flashesofdelight #PuertoRicogram #finditliveit #hashtagPuertoRico #melanin #caribe #notyouraveragerican #Afropunk #latinabloggers #curlyfro #livingfabulosa #afrocaribeña #youbelong #naturalhair #PRgram #theeverydayproject #africanroots #livethelittlethings #NaturallyShesdope #colorism #kinkyhair #caribe #afroféminas #pelonatural #blackgirlmagic #whateverPR #makeportraits
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Dec 26, 2016 at 7:29pm PST
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"Look like you are happy!" And this is what she did. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Went to the Christmas fair yesterday and met this beauty. At first I feel like she wasn't sure why I wanted to take "her" picture. But isn't she lovely? : @nuanceandbubbles
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Jan 8, 2017 at 12:43pm PST
Sunday morning church flow. Haitian raised in St-Thomas, living in Puerto Rico. Stylish combo. Model: @lilpatf21 : @nuanceandbubbles creator of @afrosinsanjuan
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Jan 15, 2017 at 10:28am PST
Last picture of the day because I'm going on a date with my boo, but I wanted to share it because, let's face it, we all need this amount of beauty in our lives. When France & Puerto Rico fall in love. Dance teacher: @catherinep1 Musician: @oferendapr Photographer: @nuanceandbubbles for @afrosinsanjuan • • • • #afrosinsanjuan #thatsdarling #flashesofdelight #PuertoRicogram #finditliveit #hashtagPuertoRico #melanin #caribe #notyouraveragerican #Afropunk #latinabloggers #curlyfro #livingfabulosa #afrocaribeña #youbelong #naturalhair #PRgram #theeverydayproject #africanroots #livethelittlethings #NaturallyShesdope #colorism #kinkyhair #caribe #afroféminas #pelonatural #blackgirlmagic #whateverPR #makeportraits
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Jan 19, 2017 at 4:58pm PST
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude"~ Maya Angelou. Muse: : @nuanceandbubbles for @afrosinsanjuan Shot in the streets of San Juan
A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Jan 21, 2017 at 12:02pm PST
"I was disappointed when I visited a Latino museum in the US where they were dancing "bomba" & "plena" [traditional Afro boricua dances] but all the dancers looked [white] like you. Please! For that you need "negras" [black]” A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Feb 23, 2017 at 9:02pm PST
"Esta peineta se la tumbé a un jevo en 1980. Se llamaba Elliott." •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• "I took this hair pick from an ex-boyfriend in 1980. His name was Elliott." • • • • • #afrosinsanjuan #thatsdarling #flashesofdelight #PuertoRicogram #finditliveit #hashtagPuertoRico #melanin #caribe #notyouraveragerican #Afropunk #latinabloggers #curlyfro #livingfabulosa #afrocaribeña #youbelong #naturalhair #PRgram #theeverydayproject #africanroots #livethelittlethings #NaturallyShesdope #colorism #kinkyhair #caribe #afroféminas #pelonatural #blackgirlmagic #whateverPR #makeportraits A post shared by Photographing Afro Caribbeans (@afrosinsanjuan) on Feb 21, 2017 at 7:57pm PST
The post Valerie Moreno Documents Afro-Latinas With #AfrosInSanJuan Project appeared first on MadameNoire.

Far too often Black people are excluded from the Latina conversation. But one Puerto Rican artist is helping to remedy that problem. In an interview with Remezcla, photographer Valerie Moreno said “you will see boricuas of every color imaginable.” To make these women more visible, Moreno launched the project and Instagram account Afros in San Juan.

Launched in August 2016, the project seeks to show that Afro-Latinas, particularly the ones with natural hair. So far the project has featured women like Juliana Pache, the founder of the #AfroLatinxHistory hashtag. There’s also fellow artist Zahira Kelly, journalist Amanda Alcantara and others who’ve fought to bring exposure Afro-Latinos and Black women in general.

“I try to be kind and stay open in order to learn about how my other brown sisters live their lives and how I can better portray their beauty,” Moreno told #IAmEnough. “It’s not only about the photograph, it’s caring about their stories. Stories about overcoming pressures from society and even those closest to them, pushing them to straighten or relax their natural curls. Each photo is an expression of acceptance of who they are and victory over systematic attempts to make their ‘natural’ = something that needs to be fixed.”